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Why Ride the Poppyscotland Sportive?

The Poppyscotland Sportive has three fantastic routes. There’s something for everyone! Starting in Prestonpans, you can decide which challenge to take.

Beautiful East Lothian appeals to families, cycling groups, friends and individuals alike – with plenty of flat terrain and a few challenging hills, the peaceful rolling countryside and quiet roads allow for glorious vistas of the surrounding scenery.

Riders can take on the Poppyscotland Sportive challenge for many reasons: to achieve their own personal goals, raise money and support the Armed Forces community in need or to be part of the third best Sportive in Scotland (as ranked by Sportive.com in 2017), which is famous for its friendly and welcoming volunteers and participants.

Fundraising is not mandatory but it is very welcome and if you raise more than £100 in sponsorship, we’ll give you a Poppyscotland Sportive cycling jersey for free!

Join Team Poppy and help provide life-changing support to our Armed Forces community #teampoppy

“Great cause. I am really pleased that 100% of entry fee goes to Poppyscotland and that is why I keep coming back each year”

Thanks to our partners, Fred. Olsen Renewables, every penny of registration and fundraising comes to us!

Price: £35 (no price increase in 6 years)

Entry Includes:

· Choice of three routes
· Electronic timing
· Mechanical support
· Food and water stations
· Coffee available before you start
· Tea and toast at the finish
· King and Queen of The Heugh timed climb
· Sweeper service
· Poppyscotland Sportive necktube

100% of your registration fee goes to Poppyscotland to help us support members of the Armed Forces community and their families

“This was brilliant! My first event and felt part of the community of Poppyscotland as well as the cyclists, which kept me going to a good result”

Keep in touch with us via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram #teampoppy

Sunday 29th September 2019

Start times:

· Long Route – Between 07:30hrs and 08:00hrs
· Middle Route – Between 08:00hrs and 09:00hrs
· Short Route – Between 08:00hrs and 09:00hrs

PLEASE NOTE – all riders must start by 09.00am – we can’t let any riders start after this time.

Time to complete the course:

Our sweep convoy will follow cyclists along all 3 routes route at a fixed speed of 10 mph for the short and medium and 13 mph for the long

Once the last wave of cyclists has left the start, our sweep convoy will follow cyclists along all 3 routes route at a fixed speed of 10 mph for the short and medium and 13 mph for the long.

Cyclists who fail to maintain this minimum average speed and are therefore overtaken by the sweep car are out of the ride. In this instance, cyclists will be asked to submit their timing chip to the sweep staff before continuing. This acts as an acknowledgement that they are no longer part of the event, and that the event infrastructure such as medical support and feed stations will no longer be available to them.

Same routes as 2019. Three different routes provide a real challenge for riders of all abilities. Routes are available in downloadable GPX format or Garmin Connect.
For more information on the routes, please click here.

BECOME KING OR QUEEN OF THE HEUGH

15 miles in, all three routes tackle ‘The Heugh’ climb. Just past North Berwick there’s a short, sharp climb. You will gain just under 100ft in 0.2 of a mile. Your time for the climb will be automatically recorded and we will award a prize for the King or Queen of The Heugh.

Will you have the energy to go for it?

You will be able to register, pick up your rider number and timings chip at the following times:

If you raise more than £100 in sponsorship money for Poppyscotland, we’ll give you one for free!

Feeding Stations:

Each of our stunning routes has 2 feeding stations (long route has 3).
Water is also provided at these stops for refilling and refuelling.

Feed stations are at:
Feed Station 1 – all routes – East Linton
Feed Station 2 – long route only – Duns
Feed Station 3 – all routes – Gifford

Bike repairs and mechanical support:

Please make sure your bike is serviced and road ready before the big day itself!

Any last minute bike repairs will be ably attended to by our friends at Leith Cycle Co, who will be at Prestonpans Community centre from 7am. These angels on wheels also provide our mechanical service.

Results:

This is a Sportive, by definition a non-competitive long distance cycling event.
Timings are only for each individuals own personal information.

The Poppyscotland Sportive is organised, managed and delivered by a team of dedicated volunteers and staff, ensuring that we keep event costs low and plough every penny we can back into our welfare services.

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News

Poppyscotland is hosting an afternoon event next week to highlight the range of support available to the Armed Forces Community in the North of Scotland. The open day at its Inverness Welfare Centre in the heart of the Highland capital … Read more

Events

Why Ride the Poppyscotland Sportive? The Poppyscotland Sportive has three fantastic routes. There’s something for everyone! Starting in Prestonpans, you can decide which challenge to take. Beautiful East Lothian appeals (...)

News

Why Ride the Poppyscotland Sportive? The Poppyscotland Sportive has three fantastic routes. There’s something for everyone! Starting in Prestonpans, you can decide which challenge to take. Beautiful East Lothian appeals (...)

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Poppyscotland is a member of The Royal British Legion group of charities, and is a trading name of The Earl Haig Fund Scotland. Scottish Charity No. SC014096. A Company limited by guarantee.
Registered in Scotland No. 194893 at New Haig House, Logie Green Road, Edinburgh EH7 4HQ. The Royal British Legion, Haig House, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA. Charity Registration No. 219279